Jay Cutler scores on a 2-yard run Sunday against the Jets at Soldier Field in Chicago. Cutler also helped the Bears win a 38-34 shootout by throwing three touchdown passes, all in the third quarter. He passed for 215 yards overall.

CHICAGO — Never mind the recent drama. Coach Rex Ryan and the Jets are headed back to the playoffs and they’re not complaining even if they got in with a loss.

Jay Cutler threw three touchdown passes, Matt Forte ran for 113 yards and the Chicago Bears beat New York 38-34 on Sunday, sending the slumping Jets to their third loss in four games.

Chris Harris intercepted Mark Sanchez on a pass intended for Santonio Holmes with about a minute left to end New York’s comeback bid, but the Jets’ season won’t be ending next week.

The Jets (10-5) clinched their second consecutive postseason trip under Ryan when Jacksonville lost 20-17 in overtime to Washington. There was a loud roar from the New York coaches’ locker room when the Jaguars lost, and Ryan stopped himself as he addressed the media.

“By the way, I think we’re in the playoffs,” he said. “Not the way I wanted it, but I’ll take it.”

Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson said Graham Gano’s winning field goal for the Redskins was “like Christmas.”

The Jets were given an extra night in Chicago to savor it after a snowstorm delayed their return to New York. The red-hot Bears (11-4) might let this one soak in a bit too.

They won for the seventh time in eight games after blowing an early 10-point lead and are in good position to lock up a bye.

Cutler completed 13-of-25 passes for 215 yards, with Johnny Knox catching four for 92 yards and two touchdowns, the second coming when he beat Antonio Cromartie on a 26-yarder that broke a 31-31 tie in the third quarter. Knox also caught a 40-yarder early in the third after a failed fake punt by New York.

“We came into it knowing we were going to have to take a few shots, go vertical on them,” Cutler said. “We knew with our speed it would be hard for them to keep up.”

Forte also had a big game for the Bears and, assuming those numbers stand, is the first opponent to run for 100 or more yards against the Jets this season. Pittsburgh’s Rashard Mendenhall had a yard deducted after initially being credited with 100 last week.

Sanchez seemed to be just fine after playing most of last week’s win over Pittsburgh with a shoulder injury. He threw for 269 yards and a touchdown, completing 24-of-37 passes after a sizzling start. But his interception sealed the win for Chicago.

WASHINGTON — Thirty games into the 82-game NHL season, and nearly six weeks after the Matt Duchene trade, Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic discussed the state of his team before Tuesday’s 5-2 loss at the Washington Capitals.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Rockies continued to bolster their bullpen Wednesday by agreeing to a contract to bring left-handed reliever Jake McGee back to Colorado. A major-league source confirmed the news, but the Rockies have not made the signing official.